One bill requires mediation before foreclosure; another bans a 'dual track' banking practice Bills championed by Sen. Alan Bates of Medford to require mediation before home foreclosure and to bar lenders from foreclosing while negotiating new loan terms

Today is Friday, Feb. 17, the 48th day of 2012 with 318 to follow. The moon is waning. The morning stars are Mars and Saturn. The evening stars are Mercury, Neptune, Venus, Jupiter and Uranus. Those born on this date are under the sign of Aquarius. They

CHARLOTTE, NC - It's a school district that spreads over 500 square miles, with 140,000 students. For some school reform advocates, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is too big. Now one group, SPARK Educational Performances, has launched a petition drive to

The Oregon Senate today approved two bills adding protections for homeowners in foreclosure, but their fate in the House remains less certain. The Senate voted 26-4 to pass Senate Bill 1552, which allows homeowners to mediate with lenders to try to avoid

On Tuesday Feb 14 the Oregon Senate sent Governor Kitzhaber and the Oregon Health Authority a valentine by passing SB 1580. That's the bill approving the OHA's business plan for the Coordinated Care Organizations that are the lynchpin of Kitzhaber's effo

SALEM - Proponents of a measure that would significantly overhaul the Oregon Health Plan worked Thursday to round up support for the plan as it appeared it may not have enough votes to pass the Senate. A key committee was scheduled to vote on the measure

A bill to implement the state's long-discussed health reforms is facing a sudden roadblock in Salem: a pledge by 15 Senators to block it unless limits are placed on Oregon Health Plan members' ability to sue for malpractice. All 14 Republicans and one De

Legend has it that the famous scene in Women In Love where Oliver Reed wrestles naked with Alan Bates in front of a roaring fire was actually filmed in Reed’s Surrey home Broome Hall. Buy a wing of Broome Hall, which once belonged to legendary British ac

A recent editorial in this newspaper, titled "Time to OK a new health plan" (Jan. 31), made some very good points about why lawmakers should pass the governor's health care transformation bill. While hitting many of the high points, the editorial missed

A55-year-old Medford man with schizophrenia and other mental problems was rushed to the emergency room with a bowel obstruction two months ago. After the latest hospital visit, a change in medications appeared to have cleared up the problem, but not befo

While reaching a balanced budget is the main objective of the Legislature as it opens its 2012 session today, local lawmakers say they hope to push through reforms and initiatives that would benefit Southern Oregon as well as the entire state. Regional h

24 January 2012 Last updated at 10:42 ET Mr Curran said the move allowed the company greater commercial freedom Electricity prices in Guernsey will rise by 5.5% in April, instead of the planned 2.5%, after the regulator decided to drop price control. The

The excursion boat Columbia struck a snag near shore on the Illinois River on July 5, 1918 and sank. There were between 86 and 89 casualties depending on the account. The boat was returning from a trip to the Al Fresco Amusement Park in Peoria. The trip

They might lose house; Sen. Bates says investigation of state-run program is warranted — 'It's a mess' Angela and Michael Manring have been dropped from the state-run Mortgage Payment Assistance Program because an audit showed they missed being eligible

The movies often keep fashion designers in duds, as we saw at Miuccia Prada’s fall men’s show in Milan and a few days later at Rick Owens in Paris. But these designers approach the imagery very differently. Ms. Prada cast a bespoke formality over her sui

Downtown Abbey watchers, what do you think is harder for ol’ Carson to handle: That there is now a Ping-Pong table in Downton’s library or that former footman Thomas is running the joint? Welcome to Downton during World War I. Last week’s premiere made i

After months of activity, the Oregon Health Policy Board has rolled out its idea for changing the way the state delivers health care to low-income Oregonians. But there's still a lot of confusion. Alan Bates is a doctor in Medford. He recently saw an eld

His maverick performances in 'Angry Young Men', 'Women In Love' and 'The Fixer' are esteemed in film history as some of the finest character portrayals of all time. But what was he really like? Born in Derbyshire at the Queen Mary Nursing Home, Alan Arth

I am a bit of a book worm myself. My favourite authors are John Greisham,Jack Higgins and Robert Ludlam just to name a few. I think this post would be a good idea for other book worms to let us know your favourite books and any books you would recommend